Recent Graduate New

In November 2010, the Department of Sociology honoured another set of graduating students.  Among these students was Mike Zajko, who completed his Master of Arts with a thesis that examined global warming.  He has been interested in this for years especially after he noticed a change in the discourse of global warming in the media in the period from 2007 to 2010. His focus originated around a group of “climate skeptics” His research showed how the leadership in the public debates was overtaken by non-experts (Gore and Monckton), how the conduct of the debates moved increasingly to non-refereed blogs and how the underlying science became increasingly politicized.

He has a forthcoming publication in Society focusing on policy oriented approaches to climate change and looks at the current state of scientific knowledge, dissemination and public opinion surrounding global warming. He also has several other articles in preparation.  Recently, he became an active participant on climate blogs he claims to have “lurked” during the research phase of his thesis.  Now he participates in climate related discussions, and has authored a guest post on The Scientific Method on the Climate Etc blog, one of the hottest new climate blogs.  He is currently enrolled in the PhD program at the University of Alberta and thoroughly enjoying his coursework.

Accompanying Mike Zajko, the Department of Sociology also honoured Chris O’Connor who received his PhD in 2010.  His dissertation was on young people living in the boomtown of Fort McMurray.  He became interested in the topic due to the news coverage of the goings-on in Fort McMurray, the addition of direct flights from the east coast to Fort McMurray, as well as the living conditions, as many people were sleeping in tents, due to the high cost of living in the city, to take advantage of the work available. 

With his dissertation now complete, he is in the process of adapting his research into two separate journal articles.  One examines the choices young people make with regards to school and work when they have connections to a boomtown.  The other examines the experiences of navigating boomtown lifestyle for young people and their perceptions of crime.  In addition to these journal articles, Chris is hoping to expand his research in Fort McMurray to examine boomtown living for different groups of young adults as they migrate up north for work.  Furthermore, Chris has assumed a position as an Assistant Professor at Mount Royal University where he is teaching crime and deviance, and research methods.